Sianfu, Oct. 15.
'The series of wet week-ends continues snd has become monotonous. In the middle of the week we get one or {wo fine days which makes ts think that the rainy season is ever, than the wind gets up and on Sun' day down comes the rain, lately for two Whole days in succession, Much damage has been done to the crops, the roads are a'sea of mud and mails and travellers have been much de layed. Fortunately in the city we have now a number of paved and macadamized streets and we find the advantage of them la a time like this.
'A week ago the mother of the} Military Governor of Shersi, Yang] Hucch'en, celebrated her 60th birthday. A theatre was erected the lady's garden, the principal cltiz~ fens paid complimentary calls and brought gifts, while to gratify the Buddhist convictions of the person honoured the killing of animals. in the city was prohibited for the day.
popular feature of the celebration was the distribution of dollars to all poor people in the local park. Need-Tess to say a vast procession ragged individuals streamed there from the four quarters. After $5,000] had been distributed in silver, those 5 {in charge had recourse to paying out smaller amounts in paper. It most impossible in. such distributions] to prevent some from getting more than their shares and many well-to-40 people are said to have dresses up in old clothes to receive the bounty.
Motor Cars Commandeered The first visit of Gen. Chiang Kalshek to the North-west has been great event, The weather cleared up for the occasion and Friday, Ociober 12, was a day of glorious sunshine. Gen, Chiang's private aeroplane arrived early in the morning and circled over the city but the main body of the visitors came by train to Woman. 11 {is said that 10,000 men were put on to repair the motor road from Woman to Sian in one night. All the motor cars in the city, 400, were com: mandeered for the use of the guests who included Madame Chiang, Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang anda large bodyguard. After a stop at Lintung bathe in the famous hot baths of Yang Kuei Fei, the party were receiv. ed with a salute of guns outside th city at about four pin. and the Genferalissimo and Madame Chiang pri ceeded to the Hsin Cheng, now tac military headquarters, where, on the site of a Tang Dynasty palace, there is a handsome modern hall and suite of rooms for distinguished visitors Then after dark the rain came dows] again and continued for two whole days, so that the city was seen under cloud in literal truth, It is generally supposed that tho} visit is not unconnected with the communist menace in Szechuen, for in any movement of or against tha Reds this province would be one of the main "fronts. But "General ana Madame Chiang are laying stress on the New Life Movement and to-day 4 great meeting in support of it has been held in the Min Lo Yuen, the largest hall in the city. One gracious act was the invitation of all the foreign missionaries in the city to coffee and conversation yesterday Stlernogn, Both, General, snd Max sine Chiang made informal speeches, the one in Chinese and the other in perfect and beautiful English, thanking the missionaries for their service to China and riging that they should secaperate with the New Life Mow ment to the utmost of their power, as had already been done in Kisngsi with excellent results, Those present were, of course, entirely sympathet with' every movement towards manners, cleanliness and the uplift of the people, and a committee representing all the missions in the city was elec'
matter. All were much impres-hen and there to move in the sed by the dignity and charm of manner of the Generalissimo and his wife and came away thankful that there are people of such gifts, energy] and devotion in the highest places of the land. friends and will never mix in the entertainment of consuming a lama's corpse. The Vulture known in Tibefan as "Jo-go" and led by its leader "Tang Gar" is the bird which usually hangs around the lamaseries awaiting the.poor drabas death.
'The Young expedition also' secured three very interesting bears, 2 serow, some takin, a leopard," and some smaller mammals. Jack Young now an old hand on the frontier and is beginning to know just where the bears "hang out" and where the snow leopards love to play. Quentin and Mrs. Young were new to the [game so simply had to follow the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.